Redmi Note 12 5G First Impressions: No longer a budget option

Redmi Note 12 5G has gone official in India, bringing support for 5G networks to the base model in India for the first time. However, like most other budget 5G smartphones, the Redmi Note 12 5G has been subject to a “5G tax”, hence it is more expensive than its predecessors. Xiaomi has launched the Redmi Note 12 5G for a starting price of Rs. 17,999 in India. In comparison, the Redmi Note 11 that was launched in India last year had a starting price of Rs. 13,499. Despite the increase in price, Xiaomi says it hasn’t compromised on the specifications and the Redmi Note 12 5G does pack some promising hardware.

Starting with the design, the Redmi Note 12 5G is a real eye-catcher in its Frosted Green color. As the name suggests, the plastic back panel has a matte finish, which gives it a glass-like shine. This phone also comes in Mystique Blue and the classic Matte Black.

The back panel curves into the flat plastic frame, which offers a good feel in the hand. The Redmi Note 12 5G weighs around 188 grams and is 7.98mm thick. It has an IP53 rating, which indicates basic protection against water splashes and dust.

The right side of the phone has space for the power and volume buttons, while the left side has the dual nano SIM tray. At the bottom is a USB Type-C port, a single speaker grille, and a microphone. The IR emitter, 3.5mm audio jack, and second microphone are placed at the top.

The green color of the Redmi Note 12 5G has a matte finish

The display has seen a lot of upgrades compared to the 6.5-inch 90Hz AMOLED panel on the Redmi Note 11. The Redmi Note 12 5G gets a tall 6.67-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The phone switches between a 60Hz and 120Hz refresh rate depending on the content on the screen. The flat display is surrounded by fairly thin bezels, with the exception of the chin. There’s also a small punch-hole at the top for the 13-megapixel front-facing camera.

With a peak brightness of up to 1200 nits, the display is quite bright, even for outdoor use. It would have been nice if Xiaomi had launched the Redmi Note 12 5G with stereo speakers, as this would have complemented the phone’s high-quality display to offer a rich multimedia experience. The Redmi Note 11 did have stereo speakers, so that’s one area where the Redmi Note 12 5G gets a downgrade.

On the back, the Redmi Note 12 5G features a triple camera setup. There’s a 48-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 2-megapixel macro sensor. From what I could tell in my brief use of it so far, the performance of the main camera is pretty good for the price. The dynamic range is a little off, but the camera does a pretty good job of nailing the colors. We’ll be testing the performance of all the cameras on this phone in our full review.

Highlights of the latest budget Redmi Note include 5G support and a new processor. The Redmi Note 12 5G features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 SoC, which we previously saw in the iQoo Z6 Lite 5G (Review). While the latter performed well, we will be testing the Redmi Note 12 5G to see how well optimized it is.

Android 12-based MIUI 13 on the Redmi Note 12 5G

Xiaomi has launched the Redmi Note 12 5G with MIUI 13 based on Android 12, which is a disappointment. The company has promised to deliver two major Android updates, which means users will only get Android 13 and Android 14. Xiaomi has also promised to provide four years of security updates for the Redmi Note 12 5G. There is some bloatware in MIUI 13, but you can uninstall unwanted apps.

The phone packs a 5000mAh battery and supports 33W fast charging. In case you were wondering, the phone comes with a charger in the box.

Starting at Rs. 17,999, the Redmi Note 12 5G offers 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The variant we have comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage and costs Rs. 19,999. This new entry-level Redmi Note is pricier than many fans of the series might expect. Should you consider buying it? Find out in our full review, coming soon to Gadgets 360.

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